Eni and SEA signs agreement on biofuels for aviation

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Eni and SEA, the Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate airports operator, have signed an agreement to promote decarbonization initiatives in the aviation sector and accelerate the ecological transition of the two airports, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

The agreement stems from a collaboration that first began in December 2021 with the supply of sustainable aviation biofuels for private flights. The collaboration has been extended to commercial flights too and includes the supply of pure hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biofuel for ground transportation, as well as a joint development program for smart mobility services. These products and services support the reduction of emissions from airport operations and the decarbonization of airport-related air and ground transport.

"With this initiative, Eni is building on the potential of sustainable biofuels for aviation, as they currently represent the only immediately available solution to decarbonize the sector," said Umberto Carrara, Director of Green/Traditional Refining and Market at Eni. "Eni started producing SAFs a few months ago with a mix containing 0.5% of used cooking oil, but there are also plans to develop Eni biojet soon. This will be made exclusively from waste materials such as UCO or animal fats and can be used in a blend with conventional jet fuel of up to 50%. The goal is to produce around 200,000 tpy by 2024 and to double production by 2030."

As MRC wrote earlier, Eni is evaluating conversion of its Livorno refinery in northwest Italy into a biorefinery, as part of the Italian company's wider strategy to make its activities more environmentally sustainable. Eni has already converted two of its Italian refineries and is looking to almost double its biorefining capacity to around 2 million mt/year by 2024, and expand this to at least five times by 2050, as part of its pledge to achieve complete carbon neutrality by 2050.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.

Eni, abbreviation of Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, in full Eni SpA, Italian energy company operating primarily in petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemicals. Established in 1953, it is one of Europe's largest oil companies in terms of sales.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Linde’s fourth-quarter 2021 adjusted operating profit rose by 14% year on year, driven by higher pricing, strong volumes and productivity initiatives, said the company.

Sales revenue was also up by 14% on higher pricing and volumes, mostly from the electronics, chemicals and energy end markets. "The Linde team delivered another quarter of record financial results by growing EPS [earnings per share] 20%, operating cash flow 33% and increasing ROC [return on capital] to 17.7% - all while positioning the company for future growth with a contractually secured project backlog of USD13bn," said CEO Steve Angel.

For the full year of 2021, sales increased by 13% to USD30.8bn while adjusted operating profit rose by 24% to USD7.2bn. Angel, who steps down as CEO next month, was optimistic on the company’s outlook. "Looking ahead, the economic outlook remains uncertain. However, I have confidence in our ability to grow EPS double-digit percent from our industry-leading supply network and project backlog," he said.

Linde has signed a long-term agreement with BASF to supply BASF’s planned hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) project in Chalampe, France, with hydrogen and steam. As part of the contract, Linde will design, build, own and operate a new hydrogen production facility at Chalampe, doubling its capacity there. The new Linde plant is expected onstream in the first half of 2024. Financial details were not disclosed.

We remind, BASF, SABIC and Linde have signed a joint agreement to develop and demonstrate solutions for electrically heated steam cracker furnaces. The partners have already jointly worked on concepts to use renewable electricity instead of the fossil fuel gas typically used for the heating process.

As per MRC, JSC SIBUR-Neftekhim and JSC Linde Gas Rus signed an agreement on the utilization of carbon dioxide formed in the technological process of SIBUR.

Linde is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen. It has the largest hydrogen liquefaction capacity and gaseous hydrogen pipeline distribution system anywhere in the world. The company operates the world's first high-purity hydrogen storage cavern plus pipeline networks totaling approximately 1,000 kilometers globally, to reliably supply its customers. Linde is at the forefront in the transition to clean hydrogen and has installed 200 hydrogen fueling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide. The company offers the latest electrolysis technology through its world class engineering organization, key alliances and partnerships.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Toyo Engineering Corporation has been awarded the project to construct a polyacetal (POM) plant in Nantong, China from a newly established Chinese subsidiary of Polyplastics Co., Ltd, according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Upon the high demand of POM in the market of China and Asia, Polyplastics Co., Ltd has decided to invest for the new construction of POM plant in China. Toyo’s extensive experience in China, and established performance led to receiving the order from the client.

Toyo intends to continuously support the customer’s investment in China, especially for the petrochemical, specialty chemicals products and fine chemicals fields.

As MRC reported earlier, in January 2021, Toyo Engineering and SCG Chemicals in Thailand entered into a MOU relating to the joint collaboration for improving the process of turning mixed post-consumer plastics into recycled feedstock for petrochemical businesses. The process is owned by Circular Plas (CirPlas), which SCG Chemicals hold a 60% stake. CirPlas has already operated the demonstration plant for the advanced recycling process in Rayong province, Thailand.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
MRC

1. Evergreen acquires two more PET recycling plants and expands capacities to meet stronger demand

MOSCOW (MRC) -- To meet growing demand, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reclaimer Evergreen has recently bought a pair of facilities and added another extruder to an expansion project, according to Plastics Recysling Update. A plastics recycling and manufacturing company owned by The Sterling Group, Evergreen had a single facility in Clyde, Ohio in January 2021. It bought CarbonLite’s first PET recycling facility in Riverside, Calif. in May 2021 after CarbonLite filed for bankruptcy. Evergreen announced Feb. 9 that it purchased UltrePET in Albany, N.Y. and Novapet in Amherst, Nova Scotia, in November 2021. UltrePET, now named Evergreen Albany, and Novapet, now named Evergreen Amherst, were acquired from wTe Corp. The acquisitions will allow Evergreen to expand its overall production capacity from about 40 million pounds a year to 147 million pounds of food-grade RPET.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) reached 87,100 tonnes in 2021, down by 3% year on year.
Three producers slightly decreased their output, according to MRC's ScanPlast report.

January output of unmixed PVC came close to the level of 87,100 tonnes against 89,800 tonnes and 88,400 tonnes in January and December a year earlier; three producers decreased production volumes. Overall output of polymer totalled 1,007,000 tonnes in 2021 versus 976,300 tonnes a year earlier.

The structure of PVC production by plants looked the following way over the stated period.

RusVinyl (joint venture of SIBUR and SolVin) produced a little less 30,700 tonnes of PVC in January, with about 2,500 tonnes of which accounted for emulsion polyvinyl chloride (EPVC), compared to 30,600 tonnes in January and 30,600 tonnes in December 2021. RusViny's overall PVC output reached 349,400 tonnes last year.

SayanskKhimPlast produced slightly less than 27,700 tonnes of suspension PVC (SPVC), compared to 27,900 tonnes in January and December last year. Total PVC production at SayanskKhimPlast in 2021 was 309,300 tonnes 2021.

Bashkir Soda Company (BSC) in the first month of the year produced about 21,300 tonnes against 23,500 tonnes and 22,900 tonnes in January and December last year. Total PVC production at Bashkir Soda Company in 2021 reached 268,200 tonnes.

Kaustik (Volgograd) last month seriously increased its capacity utilisation and produced slightly less than 7,500 tonnes of suspension PVC against 7,400 tonnes and 7,000 tonnes in January and December last year. The plant's overall output of PVC reached 80,300 tonnes in 2021.

MRC